BACKGROUND OF LIVER CIRRHOSIS
Cirrhosis, also called hepatic fibrosis is a chronic disease that causes cell destruction and scarring of hepatic tissues. Scar tissues form because of long term disease or injury. Cirrhosis impairs the liver’s ability to function normally because scar tissue can not do what healthy liver tissue does. Scar tissue replaces the healthy liver tissue and blocks the normal flow of blood through the liver. Cirrhosis is a potentially life threatening condition because it affects the livers ability to fight infections, make protein, clean the blood, help digest food and store energy. According to American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, “cirrhosis is a leading cause of death in the general population, and liver transplantation …show more content…
Cirrhosis has several causes, but in the United States the most common causes are chronic alcoholism, viral hepatitis B and C, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Once the scar tissues are developed nothing can make them totally disappear. However, treating the cause can control it and keep it from progressing to the worse stage. Cirrhosis occurs in three major forms; Laennec’s (alcohol induced) cirrhosis, post necrotic (micro nodular) cirrhosis, and biliary Laennec’s cirrhosis occurs mainly around central veins and portal areas . It is the most common form of cirrhosis and is caused by alcoholism and malnutrition. Post necrotic cirrhosis consist of wide range of scar tissues which results from previous acute viral hepatitis or drug induced massive hepatic nercosis . Biliary cirrhosis consist of scarring of bile ducts and lobes of liver which results from chronic biliary obstruction and infection. Cirrhosis can remain asymptomatic for several years. Some early symptoms of cirrhosis include fatigue, loss of appetite, and loss of weight as the disease progresses. In early stages, cirrhosis may cause the liver to swell and as it progresses, more scar tissues replaces healthy
Cirrhosis, also called hepatic fibrosis is a chronic disease that causes cell destruction and scarring of hepatic tissues. Scar tissues form because of long term disease or injury. Cirrhosis impairs the liver’s ability to function normally because scar tissue can not do what healthy liver tissue does. Scar tissue replaces the healthy liver tissue and blocks the normal flow of blood through the liver. Cirrhosis is a potentially life threatening condition because it affects the livers ability to fight infections, make protein, clean the blood, help digest food and store energy. According to American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, “cirrhosis is a leading cause of death in the general population, and liver transplantation …show more content…
Cirrhosis has several causes, but in the United States the most common causes are chronic alcoholism, viral hepatitis B and C, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Once the scar tissues are developed nothing can make them totally disappear. However, treating the cause can control it and keep it from progressing to the worse stage. Cirrhosis occurs in three major forms; Laennec’s (alcohol induced) cirrhosis, post necrotic (micro nodular) cirrhosis, and biliary Laennec’s cirrhosis occurs mainly around central veins and portal areas . It is the most common form of cirrhosis and is caused by alcoholism and malnutrition. Post necrotic cirrhosis consist of wide range of scar tissues which results from previous acute viral hepatitis or drug induced massive hepatic nercosis . Biliary cirrhosis consist of scarring of bile ducts and lobes of liver which results from chronic biliary obstruction and infection. Cirrhosis can remain asymptomatic for several years. Some early symptoms of cirrhosis include fatigue, loss of appetite, and loss of weight as the disease progresses. In early stages, cirrhosis may cause the liver to swell and as it progresses, more scar tissues replaces healthy